A small tree or large shrub, flowers white. It was
not without considerable hesitation that I placed this
species among the Olives, from which it seems to be
well distinguished by the form of the corolla, and my
first thoughts were to constitute it the type of a new
genus. Further consideration, however, and a closer
examination of the distinctive characters of the genus
induced me to place it here, as being its most suitable
station. The drupaceous fruit removes it from the
Syringed, the albumenous seed from the Chionantheee,
with which the flowers would otherwise associate it.
Among the genera of Oleinea, it might have been with
equal, or perhaps, greater propriety, referred to either
Picconia or Noteloea, but after comparing it with the
characters of each, it seemed to differ nearly as widely
from both as from Olea, with the character of which
it accords in every point except the corolla, and therefore
seems to form the transition from the one to the
other: having the fruit and habit of Olea, and- the deeply
parted corolla of Pioconia and Noteloea.
1242. Olea robust a. (Wall. Phillyrea robusta-,
Roxb. Visiania robusta D, C.) leaves elliptic, oblong,
acute at the base, acuminated at the apex* entire : panicles
terminal, large, diffuse, rachis and pedicels
pubescent: style clavate : fruit subcylindrical.—Arboreous,
wood very hard, leaves 3 -finches long, 1 to 1$;
broad, flowers somewhat fragrant, fruit size of a bean.
—D. C. Prod., 8, 289;. '
A not unfrequent, usually small sized, tree, in alpine
jungles in Southern India, the specimens figured
were gathered on the Eastern-slopes of the Neilgher-
ries, where it is to be met with in flower or fruit at all
seasons.
The genus Visiania of De Candolle only differs from
Olea in the fruit. He remarks of it—" Genus inter
©leam et Phillyream medium- priori dispositions
florum et albumine carnoso, posteriori putamine char—
tacco affine.” From, this it appears* it only differs
from Olea in having a paper-like fragile putamen,
while Olea has a hard- bony one, a distinction to which
Lcannot attach generic value.
1243. Ligustrum N e il g h e r r e n se (Ri W.)
subarboreous, glabrous, leaves ovate, elliptic, acute
or cuspidately acuminate,- coriaceous, thyrses on the
ends of the branches lax.
Neilgherries, on banks of streams, flowering during
the rains in May and June. A small tree*or large
shrub ; leaves often subalternate, from I f ’-to 2 inches
long, and about 1- to I f broad, the larger ones usually
terminating in a short acute acumen, flowers numerous,
fragrant and large for this genus.
Very nearly allied to the following, as the extreme
forms of each seem to pass into each- other. They
appear distinct, the one being common and very con-
tantly retaining the form of a shrub in nearly all situations,
while the other is very local and attains a much
larger size. It appears to me that D. C. has included
both under his character of L. Perrottetii, I have limit-
ted that name to the more generally diffused species,
which is most correctly compared to L. mlgare;
which it much resembles. •
1244. Ligustrum PerrottIetii (D.C.) branches
puberulous at the apex, leaves elliptic, obtuse at both
ends, or subacute, glabrous, coriaceo-carnosulous, the-
thyrses terminating the branches, compound compact.
M l
Neilgherries, frequent: to be met with in nearly
all situations, on hilly pastures and banks of rivulets,
and very uniform in its habit in both.
A ramous leafy shrub, from 2 to 4, or 5 feet high,
leaves from 1 to I f inch long, by about 6 to 8
lines broad, of a dark green color, usually obtuse at
both ends, but occasionally somewhat acute : ramuli
numerous, short, each terminating in a compact thyrse
of fragrant white flowers, fruit oval, obtuse at both
ends, about the size of a small bean.
D: C. hints that perhaps L . Nepalense, is a native
of the Neilgherries; I have not met with any plant corresponding
with his character,. “ branches softly vil-
lous,” and " leaves villous beneath.”
1245. Linociera intermedia (R. W.) leaves
elliptic, acuminate at both ends, long petioled : panicles
axillary, diffuse, about as long as the leaves: flowers
aggregated on the points of the ramuli, sessile, often
male by abortion ovules ascending, stigma capitate,
2 lobeu, fruit oval, one seeded..
Eastern slopes of the Neilgherries frequent, flower.*
ing during the rainy season.—Arboreous, glabrous,
leaves opposite, from 6 to 8 inches long, including the
petiol, panicles- axillary, varying much in size, the
larger ones being about the length of the leaves, flowers
numerous, white,.frequently sterile by abortion, and
then the panicles attain their greatest size; fertile panicles
are generally shorter than the leaye6. Flowers
small, ovules ascending. I am uncertain whether this
last structure is general throughout th is ‘Tribe,’ but
if so, the direction of the ovules afford a mark by
which it can, when in flower, be distinguished from
the Oieineae; ascending in this, pendulous from the
apex- of the cell in that.
This species seems exactly intermediate between L.
macrophylla and ramiflora, but is more nearly related
to the former.
F246-. L in o ciera malabarica. (Wall. Alph. D5,
G.) leaves elliptic, obtuse, cuneately attenuated at the
base, glabrous on both sides : racemes axillary, much
shorter than the leaves, few flowered; the ramuHr
bearing 1 to 3 sessile flowers on the apex : pedicels
and calyx pubescent; petals linear chanelled. Petiole
about 2 -lines long, leaves 2 inches long, and about 15
lines broad, fruit oval, obtuse at both ends, about the
size of a bean.— I k C. Prod., 8, 292.
Courtallum .and Western Slopes of the Neilgherries,
flowering February and March. A rambling
shrub : ■ leaves from 3 to 6> inches long, 1-2-15 lines
broad, somewhat obovate, cuneate, ending in a short
blunt acumen. Flowers white, having the appearance
of 4 slender, lanceolate petiole; united 2-and 2, by the
short stout filament, fruit ovate, oblong, smooth.
124T. JasminUm rigidum (Zenker D. C. I.
myrtifolium Zenk. D- C. I. tetraphis Wight and Gardner,
Calcutta Journal of Science) glabrous, erect, or
subscandent: ■ leaves ovate or oval, obtuse at the base,
submucronate at the point, branches axillary, and terminal,
3-& flowered :> pedicels about the length of the
tube of the calyx : lobes of'the calyx 4.6, linear,.subulate,
erect,.-as long as the tube corolla about 5 times'
longer than the tube of the calyx; lobes six, elliptic,
submucronate, - about1 a third shorter than the
tube. Leaves-short, petioled; from 10 to 12 lines to
an inch and half long, from £ or 1 or I f inch broad, •
shining, subcoriaceous, 4 nerved, the lateral ones the
larger : flowers white, fragrant, about 15 lines long.
Neilgherries, not infrequent about Coonoor and: